James Winnefeld

President Barack Obama named nominees of new military brass today, on Memorial Day, for the positions of chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, vice chair of the Joint Chiefs, and chief of staff of the Army. USA Today reports:

President Obama used Memorial Day to make major personnel changes in the military today, tapping Army Chief of Staff Martin Dempsey to become the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Dempsey, a soldier for four decades and a prominent leader of the Iraq war, is "one of our nation's most respected, combat-tested generals," Obama said at a White House ceremony....

Obama also nominated Navy Admiral James Winnefeld to be vice chair of the Joint Chiefs.

As for Dempsey's replacement as Army chief of staff, Obama tapped Gen. Ray Odierno, the former commander of U.S. troops in Iraq.